Fluid applicators



Jan. 9, 1962 s. MAYNIER ETAL FLUID APPLICATORS Filed March 22, 1954 INVENTORS. STELLA MAY/WEE.

JOHN V/(TO/Q.

w \1 1 .i L I ATTORNEK FLUID APPLICATORS Stella Maynier, 68-12 Groton St. Forest Hilis, N.Y.,

and John Victor, Bronxville, N.Y.; said Victor assignor to said Maynier Filed Mar. 22, 1954, Ser. No. 417,666

Claims. (Cl. 15-543) red rates Patent 1,

communicate through the latter with a source of fluid supply, and a brush mounted in the cover and projecting outwardly therefrom for receiving and dispensing fluid.

As is well known to those versed in the art, the application of various fluids, both liquids and creams, to the person of the operator, is commonly a sloppy and wasteful procedure. For example, in the application of color rinse or dye to the hair, it was heretofore necessary for the user to bend the head over the sink and, with a suitable dauber,

Of course, there was substantial waste as relatively little of the rinse was actually used; and, in addition, such operation required skillful manipulation of the dauber and a comb, the use of a mirror being: prevented by the body position, to apply the rinse evenly and accurately at the desired location, such as to the-regrowth of hair near the roots. Further, prior cosmetic application methodsrequired the use of protective devices on clothing and sur-j rounding surfaces, as well as extensive cleanup after the application.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efiicient fluid applying device which overcomes the above mentioned difficulties, which affords. one-handed fingertip operation to accurately control the amount of fluid applied to a selected area of the operators person, and which enables the operator to standerect and employ a mirror during the application procedure. Moreover, by the use of the applicator of the present invention, all of the dispensed fluid is applied as desired, so that a minimum of fluid is required, thereby eliminating waste, as'well as the splashing and spilling inherent in prior methods of application. Thus, the application of cosmetic fluids may be accomplished quickly, easily and neatly by the device of the present invention, so a to effect considerable savings in time both during the application, and by elimination of the after application cleanup.

While the applicating device of the present invention has been particularly developed and employed in connection with liquid and cream, hair and dying preparations, and will be described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, the device has been found capable of a wide variety of uses, as for example, the application of shampoo, scalp treatment materials, bleach, permanent wave lotions and neutralizing agents, liquid lipstick, eyebrow and eyelash mascara, mustache preparations, shoe polish, and many others, including paints and liquid-pastes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid applicating device of the type described which is readily adapted for attachment to a container, so as to form a sealed, leak-proof unit for safely carrying the fluid during transportation, storage and use. Thus, the applicating device of the present invention will combinewith a fluid container to provide a handy dispenser-applicator when in use, and a unit safe for packing in luggage or the like during travel.

It is yet another object of the present invention to pro- Patented Jan. 9, 1962 vide a fluid applicator of the type describedwhich is well adapted for use with fluids of widely varying viscosities,

and in which novel means are provided for selectively determining the rate of flow of fiuid'in the applicator, and

hence, the quantity of fluid applied.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an applicating device having the abovementioned characteristics, which is simple in construction and durable in operation, which is fully effective to accomplish its in tended objects, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Otherobjects ofthe. present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of constructions, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construcattempt to transfer the rinse from the sink to the hair.

. FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view, partly in section, showtion hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims. I

In the drawings: :'2 FIGURE l is a side elevational view showing a fluid applicator combined with a container for fluid;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken through the applicator of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the applicatorof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the applicator ofFIG. 1, with parts removedtherefrom for purposes ofclarity of understanding;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of'thebrush of FIG. 1;

' FIG. 7 is a vertical, sectional view, showing the pre-.

ferred form of applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial, vertical sectional view showing the applicator of FIG. 7 in a partially closed condition;

FIG. 9 is a partial, vertical sectional view showing the applicator of FIG; 7 in fully closed condition; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a slightly modified form of applicator.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, the device illustrated therein comprises a container, generally designated '10, and an applicator, generally designated 11.

The container 10 may be of any desired configuration and material and it may be rigid or of the squeeze bottle'type, fabricated of flexible, resilient material, such as polyethylene plastic. A threaded neck 12, or other suitable opening, may be provided on the container 10, as desired.

The applicator 11 includes a cap or bottle top 13 having integral screw threads 14 engageable with the neck 12, and formed with external flutes o-r grooves 15 which afford a, gripping surface. The top of the cap 13 i formed centrally thereof with a through opening d6 adapted for communication between the interior and exterior of the container 10 when the cap is screwed on the neck 12. The cap 13 may be integrally formed with an upwardly projecting centrally located cover at 19,

onthe latter may be fixedly secured, by cement or other suitable means, on the cap 13, overlying the aperture 16. The cover 19 is hollow and generally'elongated, having its proximate and distal ends 20 and 2-1, respectively, open and in substantial alignment with the cap opening 16.

A brush 22, see FIG. 5, including bristles 23 and a bristle holder or support 24, is disposed within the cover 19 and projects outwardly through the cover end. 21.

More particularly, the bristle holder 24 includes a cup 25 secured on a generally circular base plate 26, the latter being formedwith circumferentially spaced, peripheral notches 27. The base plate 26 is adapted to tit snugly into and be secured within cap opening 1-6,

the notches 27 combining with the cap 13 to define passageways communicating between the interiors of the container and'co'ver 19, and the bristles 23 extending outwardly through and beyond the distal cover end 21.

In its preferred form the cap 13 is formed on its periphery with 'a generally upwardly and outwardly curved tooth or prong 17, which has its free end adjacent to and spaced from the bristles 23, for purposes appearing hereinafter in greater detail. This tooth or prong may be made removable in any suitable manner.

In operation, assuming that the bottle is of the squeeze type, a quantity of fluid is introduced into the bottle, or container 19, and the applicator 1d is assem-' bled with the container in the form shown in FIG. 1. Upon squeezing or other inward deflection of the container'walls, the fluid therein will be expelled through vents or passageways 27 into the hollow of the cover 19 in intimate contact with the bristles 23. It will be noticed that the cover 19, being spacedly circumposed about the bristles, combines therewith to form a fluid reservoir for peripherally feeding the brush, which of course provides faster movement of fluid into the bristles and a greater supply at the distal brush end. Further squeezing of the container will force the fluid along the bristles 23 outwardly through the cover end 21 for application, if desired. The size and shape of the vents 27 may be predetermined in accordance with the viscosity ofthe fluid being employed, so that a relatively light liquid will require small notches and relatively heavy cream or semi-solid will require. larger passageways. If

the bottle is of the rigid type, then the liquid would flow by gravity through the vents or passageways 27 when the bottle or container is slanted, placed in horizontal position or turned upside down and agitated.

Thus, the applicator is applicable to both the rigid and flexible types of bottles or containers.

When the applicator device is used in dyeing the hair, the tooth is particularly advantageous. That is, with one hand, the operator may part the hair with the tooth 17 and apply'the fluid with the bristles 23 to the regrowth hair, or otherwise desired. It is evident, however, that the device of the invention may be employed without the tooth or prong 17, as for example, when used by the male sex.

In FIGS. 7'-9 are shown the preferred form of applicator 1-1, including a bottle top or cap 13 formed in its top wall with a central, through opening 15, and provided with an integral, hollow cover 19'. The central opening 16 is preferably peripherally notched, as at 17'. The cover 19' has its distal end 21 open and in substantial alignment with the cap opening 16.

A tube or sleeve 301's arranged coaxially of and spacedly within the cover 19' and has its outer end 31 fixedly secured within the open end 21' of the cover by any suitable cement, as at 32. The inner end 33 of the tube or sleeve is disposed adjacent to and spaced from the cap opening 16; and, intermediate the tube ends 31 and 33 are formedv a plurality of through apertures 34, preferably of increasing size toward the inner sleeve end.

A brush 22' is mounted within the sleeve 39 and projects outwardly beyond the distal end 31 thereof, for applying fluid, as will be seen presently. More particularly, the brush 22v includes a bristle holder 24 fixedly secured within the sleeve in closing relation with respect to the inner end 33 thereof, and the bristles 23' extend from the holder 24 through and out of the distal ends of the sleeve 30 and cover 19.

A sheath or tube 35 has one end portion 36 slidably circumposed about the sleeve 30 within the cover 19-, the other end portion 37 of the sheath. extending spaced, ly through the cap opening 16' and inwardly beyond the cap. Thus, the sheath 35 is slidably adjustable for opening and closing the sleeve apertures 34, as desired. A plug 38 is removably inserted in the sheath end 37 so as to seal the space between the bristle holder 24 and the plug, and thereby maintain the sheath in its selected position of sliding movement. 'Fixedly secured about the sheath end portion 36 is a collar 39 having its outer end portion 40 formed of yieldable material such as rubber or the like, and its inner end formed with recesses or notches 39, for a purpose appearing presently. A collar 41, also formed of rubber of other suitable sealing material, is secured about the inner sheath end 37; and, a gasket or washer 42 is disposed within the bottle top 13' underlying the upper wall thereof.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the applicator 11' is fully open, so that'fluid may be caused to flow through the washer 42, cap opening 16, and recesses 3? into the hollow of the cover 19'. The fluid will then pass through the sleeve openings 34 to the brush bristles 23 for application to the desired area. That is, the spaced cover 19' and sleeve 30 define a fluid reservoir surrounding the brush and serving to peripherally feed the bristles thereof.

In FIG. 8 the sheath 35 has been moved to a partially closed position, 'so that fluid contained within the cover 19' is restricted to passage through fewer of the sleeve openings34 to the bristles 23. Thus, the rate of fluid flow may be varied substantially; or, the sheath may be adjusted to accommodate fluids of various viscosity and aiford any desired flow thereof.

In FIG. 9, the sheath 35 has been moved to its fully closed position, covering all of the sleeve apertures 34, and thereby preventing the passage of fluid to the brush bristles. Further, the yieldable collar portion 49 is in conforming engagement with the cover 19 adjacent to the cover end 21' to seal the latter, and the collar 41 is seated against the washer 42 and top wall of the cap 13 in sealingrelation with respect to the cap opening 16', so that both the cover and cap are effectively sealed to prevent the passage of fluid to the brush.

It is preferable to maintain the relation of the bristles 23, 23 of the brush in the proportion of approximately two-thirds within the cover or housing 19, i9 and onethird therewithout, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectively, to enable the fluid to properly saturate the brush and to correct feeding of the fluid to the outside portion of the bristles.

In the device depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6, the size of the notches 27 in base plate 26 is predetermined according to the consistency of the material to be fed therethrough to the bristles of the brush. Ifv the consistency of a material to be fed is different from that previously employed, it might be necessary to change the base plate to one having a different size of notches.

According to FIGS. 7 to 9, the device is manually adjustable (as clearly seen in FIG. 7), for adaption for use in connection with materials of different consistencies, by manipulation of sheath 35 with respect to the openings 34 in sleeve 36, which vary in size.

In FIG. 10 is shown another device which is substantially the same as that of FIGS. 16, but wherein the passageways or vents 27 of the first described form are eliminated, and a tube 45 has one end 46 secured in the cap 1 and opening into the hollow of the cover 19. The other end 47 of the tube 45 projects away from the applicator and is adapted to extend into the bottle or container 10' to a point adjacent to and spaced from the bottom thereof. In this form of the present invention, the container 10' may be held upright during the squeezing procedure, even when the container is almost empty, and the fluid will be forced through the tube 45 into the cover 19, as described in connection with the FIGS. 16. The form of FIG. 10 also includes a closure or cover 48 adapted to enclose the projecting brush bristles 23, and having one end open, as at 49, and removably and snugly engageable with the cover 19. Obviously, the enclosure 48 will permit the packing or other handling of the applicator without the danger of articles coming into contact with the brush bristles.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a fluid applicator which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and which is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

For example, it is fully appreciated that the constructional features of one form of the present invention may be embodied in another form thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid applicator comprising a flexible, resilient container having one end open, a cap over said open container end, there being an opening formed in said cap for conducting fluid from said container upon inward deflection of the latter, a hollow cover secured on said cap over said opening for receiving fluid from said container, said cover being formed with an opening remote from said cap, a graduated apertured sleeve disposed spacedly within said cover and having its outer end secured Within said cover opening, a brush having one end secured in closing relation within said sleeve adjacent to the inner end of the latter and having its outer end extending beyond the outer end of said sleeve for receiving and dispensing said fluid, and a sheath movable on said sleeve for selectively opening and closing the apertures thereof to determine the rate of flow of fluid to said brush, said sheath comprising a tube longitudinally slidable and circumposed about said sleeve and having one end extending spacedly through said cap opening, and a plug removably inserted in said one tube end to seal said tube, whereby said tube may be adjusted and maintained in any selected position of its sliding movement.

2. An applicator according to claim 1, in combination with a collar disposed within said cover surrounding said tube and movable with the latter between a fully opened position in engagement with said cap and a closed position in engagement with said cover.

3. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein said collar has its inner end recessed and engageable with said cap when in said fully opened position, the outer end of said collar being yieldable and engageable with said cover to seal the latter when in closed position.

4. A fluid applicator comprising a container having an open top, a cap engaging said open top, said cap formed in its top wall with a central through opening communicating with said container, a hollow cover integrally connected to said cap, said cover having an opening remote from said cap and in substantial alignment with said cap opening, a brush comprising a brush holder disposed within said cover and bristles fixed in said holder projecting outwardly beyond the opening in said cover for applying fluid from said container, a substantially tubular member arranged coaxially of and spacedly within said cover and being in fixed relation to said brush, said memher having its inner end disposed adjacent to and spaced from said cap opening and being provided with a plurality of through apertures, said brush holder being arranged in closed relation with respect to the inner end of said member, a sheath having its forward end portion movably circumposed about said member and its rearward end portion extending spacedly through said cap opening and beyond said cap whereby said sheath is adjustable for selectively opening and closing the apertures of said member, the space between said member and the opening in said cap and the space between said member and said cover provide means whereby fluid from said container may flow into said cover and through the apertures of said member to said bristles when the sheath is adjusted to open the apertures.

5. A fluid applicator comprising a container cap formed in its top wall with a central, through opening, a hollow cover connected to said cap, said cover having an opening remote from said cap and in substantial alignment with said cap opening, a tubular member arranged coaxially of and spacedly within said cover, said member having its outer end secured within the opening in said cover, said member having its inner end disposed adjacent to and spaced from said cap opening, and being provided with a plurality of through apertures, a brush mounted within said member, said brush comprising a bristle holder secured within said member in closing relation with respect to the inner end thereof and bristles extending from said holder through and out of said outer end of said member, a sheath having its forward end proportion slidably circumposed about said member within said cover and its rearward end portion extending spacedly through said cap opening and beyond said cap, whereby said sheath is slidably adjustable for opening and closing said apertures, as desired, a plug removably inserted in the rearward end of said sheath sealing the space between said bristle holder and said plug, and a collar secured about said sheath forward end proportion, said collar having its inward end formed with a plurality of openings.

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